Display window assembly



Oct. 3, 1950 DISPLAY WINDOW ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 29, 1944 Patented Oct. 3,, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I DISPLAY WINDOW ASSEMBLY Robert V. Cheatham, Jr., Louisville, Ky.

Application December 29, 1944, Serial No. 570,315

This invention relates to displaywindow assemblies and particularly to those display window assemblies that are adjacent to pedestrian passways, either indoors or out, and beneath which valuable but inaccessible potential display rooms may exist.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide maximum additional display space with a minimum sacrifice of original display floor area.

Another object of this invention is at once to increase total display floor space and add beauty to same by the very nature of the means employed to attain said display space increase.

A further object of this invention is to provide means whereby undesirable and otherwise inaccessible space may be transformed into highly valuable display rooms.

Another object of this invention is to provide considerably greater additional display space in an underlying adjacent compartment than would be otherwise economically feasible, or often even possible, to provide in the original display compartment.

A further object of this invention is to increase display advantages by providing a new perspective for certain articles which show up best only when viewed from above.

Another object of this invention is to add sales appeal to all merchandise so displayed by attractively presenting same in an unusual and novel manner. 1

Another object of this invention is to provide a hollow shaft or sleeve which, when installed in the apertured floor of an upper display window compartment will permit visual access to an underlying and previously hidden basement chamber thereby lending real value to same as a subterranean display compartment which thereby can be seen from the first floor level through the sleeve by pedestrians traversing a first-floor-level passway.

A further object of this invention is to provide a variable or interchangeable sleeve or shaft to obscure from view the fragmented and unsightly original partitioning means between the old upper and the new lower compartments which partitioning means are necessarily exposed in the process of installation of this invention; said shaft also being for the purpose of hiding construction details of any otherwise exposed supporting or fastening means of the apparatus of invention itself.

still further object of this invention is to provide, when it is desired to maintain upper display floor areas at the highest practicable max- 8 Claims. (01. 20-404) imum, a sectional false floor resting upon and constructed above the level of the original display floor and having a sloping apertured section of false floor which is adapted to detachably sup.- port a hollow shaft or sleeve extending downward through a second aperture cut in the original floor, and subfloors. beneath same, the detachable sleeve terminating in a previously Visually. inaccessible subterranean or basement, chamber in such a manner as to provide visual communication with same while obscuring the false floor construction details and the unsightly remnants of cut away floor and subfloor sections resulting from the installation of the device of this. invention. 3

Another object of this invention is to provide visual shafts or sleeves of several standard sizes which are interchangeable with other like sized shafts so asto permit the interchanging of same tofacilitate further attractiveness of design in the detailed. appearance of this apparatus, and with a view to increasing the overall beauty of displays exhibited therethrough.

A further object of this invention is to provide a transparent: atmospheric control plate adapted. to the throat of the apron of the aperture trimming means, abovea visual shaft communicating between an upper and a lower display compartment, said transparent plate being for the purpose of permitting visual access to said lower compartment while preventing the rush. of warm air from the lower display compartment into the upper display compartment via said connecting shaft.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a cover means for aforesaid visual shaft, and/or aperture trimming means adapted to detachably hold same, for the purpose of temporarily obscuring the chamber below so as to per.- mit the changing of its display without same being open to view during the process thereof; with the additional purpose to temporarily permit the full utility of the upper compartment just as though no aperture in said floor existed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists of a novel means to render accessible to view such underlying chambers as exist beneath the floor of any display window compartment but which space normally has no high display value due to its visual inaccessibility to thelarge numbers of shopperswho, nevertheless, traverse a pedestrian passway within only a few feet of said lower hidden chamber; and which .hidden chamber, and visual access means to same, together with said upper display window compartment and pedestrian passway location, are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification, and particularly claimed including such variations and modifications thereof as will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

In the accompanying drawings, and forming a part of this specification, and wherein the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a preferred form of my invention and sets forth the preferred 100a tion and one form of construction of the false floor, the aperture therein, the trimming means therefor, the interchangeable shaft or sleeve means adapted thereto, and one style of adjustable elevation for same.

Figure 2 is a cross section of a display window compartment taken on line AB showing the original display room floor, the false display room l.

floor, the aperture and trimming means adapted to detachably engage the interchangeable sleeve, shaft, or shieldingmeans, the atmospheric control plate, and the aperture cover means for obscuring the chamber shown below from view,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section, taken on a line comparable to the line CD Figure 2, detailing the application ofmy invention to any level display (window) floor where consideration for preservation of maximum display floor area in the original display window compartment is not of critical importance, and in which view, the atmospheric control plate is omitted.

This invention relates to display windows and such inaccessible, but potentially supplemental display space as may exist in hidden chambers underlying same. The device of this .invention is designed to provide an attractive means to reveal subterranean chambers beneath such said windows which through the application of this invention can be readily transformed into highly valuable display space within the visual range of thesame pedestrian shoppers that view the original display compartment above, said additional display space being gained with a minimum of sacrifice of the original display floor area in said upper compartment.

7. In-thedrawings, paving means I of apedestrian passway isshown in front of fragmented display window glass 2, of display window compartment 3 having adjacent walls A and.5. Sections 6, 1 and 8 of a false display window floor are designed to rest upon the remaining portion of the partially removed original display window floor 9, after a laterally extending section of the floor has been cut away across the breadth of compartment 3 to provide a border portion serving as a flange about the opening. An aperture I is provided in thecentral inclined section or riser of false floor section I; a trimming means or collar l I for aperture It! being provided and inwardlylterminating in an apron, the visible surface sections of the extended extremitiesof which apron are designated at I2. A cover means or door I3 is provided for aperture I0 and hinged at M and IS. A transparent lid orname-plate cover means I for an underlying lighting. fixture receptacle I1 is shown in Fig. 2, Supporting means 18, I9 and are provided for false floor section 8 and are in turn supported by and upon the remaining portion of original display window floor 9. Fragmentary sections 2| and .22 are remaining portions of the original concrete subfloor underlying original display fioor 9, which has mostly been removed in the construction readying for aperture If). The visible portion of rear wall of subterranean display chamber is shown by 23, and 24 represents the visible portion of a side wall of subterranean chamber 25 having a floor .26 with articles of display 2'5 and 28 thereon resting upon floor 26 of said chamber 25 as viewed from a shoppers position on pedestrian passway I through display window 2 and aperture !0 when door I3 is open as shown in Fig. 2.

The visible upper, inner surface section 29 of hollow shaft or sleeve 30, Fig. 2, serves as a shield to obscure remaining fragmentary portions of original display floor 9, shield or sleeve 30 also obscuring the false floor supporting construction means l9 and adjacent members thereof; and further, particularly limits the view of subterranean chamber 25 to the extent desired.

Thelposition of the sleeve 30 can be adjusted through engagement of link 33 with either of members 3! or 32. Conventional ornamental front means 34 extends downward below window glass 2 and terminates at passway paving I, the ornamental framing means 35, 3B of display window compartment 3 being component parts thereof. Cut away section 31 of ornamental front 34 exposes portions of concrete wall section 38, concrete subfioor 22, original display floor 9, and false floor section 5. Plate-holding members 39, 48 and. H are suitably affixed to the inner apron surface it, of trimming means H for supporting a transparent atmospheric control plate 42, in the apron throat (between surface section I2 and 5!) the plate-holding members 39, 4D and M, Fig. 1, serving in conjunction with opposing plateholding member 43, shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 2, trimming means or collar l I is adapted to aperture i3 and secured by holding means M to false floor section 8, and by holding means to false floor section 6 and fastened therethrough to original display window floor 9.' Supporting means t9 for false floor section 8 is fastened upon original display floor 9 by holding means 46 and 41. Supporting hook 33 is held in place against supporting construction I9 by pivotal fastening means 48. Both securing member 3| and securing member 32 are adapted to engage supporting hook or link 33, said members 3| and 32 being firmly fastened upon the outer surface of sleeve 30 by means suited to construction material used for shaft 30. Lighting receptacle I1 is covered by a transparent name plate, or transparent lid means it. Numeral 49, dotted lines, indicates the position of door i3 when closed upon aperture I!) communicating with chamber 25. A button type handle 53 is provided for door !3, upon which the door rests when in an open position. Atmospheric control or partitioning, plate 42 is positioned within the inwardly extended surface section extremities l2, and 5| which constitute the laterally continuous, apron portion, of trimming means or collar ll, and upon which opposing apron sides !2 and 5! forming the throat of said trimming means apron enclosing aperture I0, is suitably afiixed said control plate supporting member 46 and opposing member 43, as shown in Fig.2. Numerals 52 and 53 represent a corrugated portion of section I2 of collar H, which, on the opposite exterior of section l2, constitutes convex rib's provided for meshing with corresponding concave channels 54 and 55 pressed in the upper portion of shaft or sleeve 30 above section 29, lending rigidity to shaft 30 and simultaneously providing supplementary holding means for same.

A part of the lower extremities of surface section 5| of apron portion of trimming means H position.

means Hat several similar and consecutive points of local engagement anticipated therefor inthe construction thereof, but not all shown in the drawings.

, Referring to Fig. 2, numerals 23, 23, indicate the rear wall of chamber containing articlesof display 21 and 28.

Figure 3 is a detailed fragmental cross-section of a second embodiment of this invention setting forth only themost primary elements of the device of this invention and illustratin'g'the direct application, utility, and convenience of the visual v principles hereof to a display door 9, where, for instance, retention of maximum original display floor area is not a critical consideration in "the display compartments as compared to compartment 3 shown in Figures 1 and 2. The following numerals designate corresponding portions of this apparatus such as set'forth in Fig. l and/orFig. 2.

Thus is shown the device of this invention as applied to any original display window floor of arbitrary design, and here'represented by, and des ignated as floor 9'. Fig. 3 is not meant to necessarily be an exact duplicate of the installation of the device of this invention as shown in Fig. 1 and 2, but is merely meant to set forth acor'nparison of the broad visual principle embodied in the application of this invention to any and all display window floors. For the sake of clarification Fig. 3 is identified as being in general taken on a line similar in location to the line CD of Fig, '1. A cover I3 hinged at 1 dis provided with a collar I I having trimming means l2 and 5| surrounding an aperture I0, Cover ['3' separates, the upper display compartment 3 from a newly accessible lower display chamber 25 when'in a closed Chamber 25 is formed similarly to chamber 25 and is visually accessible through a display window 2, and aperture Ill. Numerals 2| and 22' are respective fragmented remainingareas of a subfloor portion providing a flange for the opening for the installation of the device of this invention, such said areas 21' and 22' also forming a fragmentary ceiling above chamber'25'. Numeral is merely to indicate that in this simplified application of the principle of this invention the collar (or trimming means) I I is extended somewhat farther than it ordinarily is,

thereby also assuming the position, and'the utility (though not the flexibility) of the shaft or sleeve Operation The application and'operation of the device-of this invention is-as follows: First,'with reference to application; which, of several anticipated .procedures for applying the device of this invention,

must be chosen, is dependent upon the special :the drawings, is necessary. As shown in'Fig. 1,

:a l-ateral 'section of original display'window floor 9 is removed, its size being comparable to, but 'somewhat'larger thanjthe area of aperture [0 in false floor section 1, A like sized lateral section of the concrete subfloor beneath sameis also removed, both the former operation and the latter resulting in, and its extent illustrated by, the remaining portions of floor- 9, 9, and concrete'subfloor sections 22 and 23, in cross section Fig. 2,

said removed portions also serving to represent the removal of any and all other obstructions between said false floor section 7 shown in Fig. l, and'underlying chamber"25, Figs. 1 and 2, which would interfere with the projection of shaft or sleeve 3!! into chamber 25 and the consequent installation of this invention. Upon completion of obstruction removals, an elevated false floorsection 8, Fig, l and Fig. 2, together with supporting means l8, l9, and 2D, is placed upon original floor 9, said members l3, l9, and 20 being secured thereto by suitable fastening means, 46 and 41,

such as illustrated in Fig. 2 securing exemplifying supporting member l9.

The inclined apertured false floor section 1 is then suitably attached, by holding means 59 and 60, to the edge of section 8 which is toward dis- 'play window 2. The opposite or lower side of section I is then likewisesuitably attached by means 6i and 62, Fig. 1, to the edge of false'fioor section 6 which is fartherest from glass 2 and rests upon floor 9, completely hiding said floor 9 from view and thereby providing an entirely new or matching floor for display compartment 3, which will blend with aperture trimming means H and the decorative appointments thereof,

Where desired, or more convenient, it is anticipated the false floor section 8, may be extended nearer window 2; and/or in instances where aperture door I3 is not desired, it is further anticipated that for the foregoing, and other reasons, false floor section 6 may also be omitted and the lower edge of section I rested at or near the lower portion of glass 2. It is also anticipated that, owing to the construction material used, trimming means or collar H may or may not, be one and the same piece of material as that from which section I may ordinarily be constructed and, that in the first instance, trimming means I I may be developed, formed, or upset, in, with, or into, the design of false floor section l or, in the latter instance said trimming means may be separately constructed and separately applied to section I as illustrated in Fig. 1.

It is still further anticipated, and claimed, that said trimming means itself may be directly ap plied to an aperture cut in any slanting or level display window floor, as illustrated in Fig. 3. In any instance, under any form of application of the device of this invention, whether embodied in new display window floor construction, or in the remodeling of old display window floors, either as anticipated herein, as apparent herefrom to those schooled in the art to which this invention relates, the purpose shall continuously be that of making available such subterranean chambers, compartments, or space, to the total exclusion of unsightly understructures; first, which space would not otherwise be simultaneously open to the view of pedestrian shoppers traversing passway l who'h-ave visual access to any displays presented in an ordinary original display window compartment above same, such as illustrated in Fig. 2 by compartment 3; or, secondly, which subterranean space lies in close proximity to any higher, adjacent pedestrian passway, irrespective of whether the compartment above said subterranean space is utilized as a display space or not, just so long as said above compartment has, either a window overlooking a pedestrian passway or, a wall that can be converted into such a window, adjacent to which, the device of this invention can then be installed.

In an application of the device of this invention, such as shown, for example, in Figs. 1 and 2, a hollow shaft or sleeve 30, similar in contour to the shape adopted for aperture I0, is detachably secured to the inner, downwardly extended, extremities of the apron part of aperture trimming means or collar II of which apron part, and I2, Fig. 2, are opposing inner surfaces, ,"whose speciall terminated portions respectively comprise, in Fig. 2, lower shaft engaging means :56, and upper shaft engaging means 52, and 53, 1the same meshing respectively, with lower corresponding means 51 and upper corresponding 'means 55 and 54 respectively, provided for that purpose upon the upper and lower extremities, respectively, of said shaft 30. A further supplevmentary supporting means, of which hook 33 is :one form, is fastened to false floor supporting :member l8, by means of pivotal holding member 48, alternately engaging variable elevation members 3| and 32 suitably fastened upon the upper, outer surface of shaft 30, thus supporting same :at one of two or more anticipated angles of elevation, relative to window 2, section I, and display articles 21 and 28 in chamber 25. Thus, in Figs. 1 and 2, a birdseye view having constant lateral limitations but of variable longitudinal limitations, is provided pedestrian shoppers upon passway I, down through shaft 30, of said articles 21 and 28 in chamber while unsightly construction members I8, I9, 20, Fig. 1, and fragmented edges of floor 9, and subfloor section 2| and 22 and/or other unsightl cut away portions of structural members as would otherwise be in evidence without said obscurit provided by shaft 30 and the inward and downward extending extremities of trimming means II, are simultaneously hidden from view.

In Fig. 1, whendoor I3, hinged to trimming means II, is in a closed position a view through shaft 30 into chamber 25 is prevented, thus permitting changes of display articles, redecorating of chamber 25, etc., without same being exposed to public view. When, as in Fig. 2, door I3 is again in an open position, at rest upon handle 50, a view of chamber ,25 is again possible, and door I3 itself may further be utilized as part of the display floor area in upper display compartment 3.

In the case of an original display window compartment which is alread constructed with a slanting section of floor comparable to the slant of section I, illustrated in Fig. 1, and provided the angle of said slanting portion of floor is not too small, a direct application of trimming means I I (similar to that shown for level floor 9, Fig. 3) may be made to the surface of said slanting section of floor after the latter has been properly apertured to receive same. Fig. 3 is illustrative of the maximum floor angle, of 180 degrees, which would be within the tolerance permitting proper visual range of lower chamber 25 and thus favorable to the installation of the device of this invention; and, upon the basis of which 180 degrees, a fioor further beyond 180 degrees would be beyond the visual tolerance range for direct application of the device of this invention, and would require alteration of the angle of said floor section to accommodate the installation of same.

It is further anticipated that in an application of this invention such as illustrated by Fig. 3, and/or as just described above, shaft 30 may be omitted, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and provided, there is no original slanting floor, comparable to false floor section I (illustrated in Fig. 1), and chamber 25, whereupon, the apron extremities of said trimming means II are thus sufficiently extended so as to obscure such structural supporting, and fragmented members, as do normally exist under display floor of a character comparable to the above mentioned examples.

It is further anticipated that the device of this invention is not only applicable to existing display window floors, but may also be expressed and embodied in new floor constructions for display window compartments.

When, as in Fig.2, door I3 of this invention is open, or removed from aperture I0, a pedestrian shopper standing upon passway I before window glass 2 of compartment 3, views displa articles 2! and 28 of chamber 25 through transparent atmospheric-control plate 42 of trimming means or collar ll, light receptacle I? covered by translucent trade-name cover plate I6, is also obviously visible as are such articles as may be displayed upon false floor section 8.

Inversely, no part of the unsightly under structure of primary window compartment 3 is visible to said shopper from his position on passway I, Figs. 1 and 2. Chamber 25 may vary in size, sometimes representing several times the floor area of compartment 3, thus providing through the device of this invention, a greatly increased display space which is likewise visible to the same pedestrian shoppers who view the display presented in said compartment 3; hence, the value of any such subterranean chambers as may lie adjacent to a pedestrian passway, indoor or out, which is comparable to I, Figs. 1 and 2, and which subterranean chamber also lies, beneath an upper display compartment comparable to 3, is enhanced many times over by the device of my invention.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of c0nstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modification as come within' the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described m invention which I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An advertising display assembly of the type used in a building adjacent a sidewalk or other point of observation, comprising: an upper display room in the normal horizontal line of sight from the point of observation, the floor of the display room being divided into a high level area adjacent the rear of the room and a low level area between the high level area and the point of observation and horizontally spaced from the high level area, the two areas being joined by an inclined riser; and a lower display room beneath the upper display room, the riser being formed with an aperture through which the lower display room can be viewed directly from the point of observation.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a shaftdefining structure is mounted in the aperture, the

structure extending into the lower display room to predetermine the extent of visible area of the latter, the axis of the structure being substantially coincident with the line of sight between the point of observation and the lower display room.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a collar is mounted in the aperture and a sleeve is detachably secured to the collar in a manner to extend into the lower display room to predetermine the extent of visible area of the latter, the axes of the collar and sleeve being substantially coincident with the line of sight between the point of observation and the lower display room.

4. An advertising display assembly of the type used in a building adjacent a sidewalk or other point of observation, comprising: an upper display room in the normal horizontal line of sight from the point of observation; a lower display room beenath the upper display room; a false display floor in the upper display room above the original floor of the room with an aperture therein line with an aperture in the original floor opening into the lower display room, both apertures being on an axis substantially coincident with the line of sight from the point of observation to the lower display room; and means mounted in the aperture predetermining the extent of area of the lower display room visible from the point of observation.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the last mentioned means includes a collar mounted in the aperture in the false floor, and a detachable and adjustable sleeve mounted on the collar for selectively predetermining the extent of area of the lower display room visible from the point of observation. 7 S

6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the last mentioned means is removably and adjustably mounted. V

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein an opaque cover is provided for the aperture to permit display changes in the lower display room without being observed from said point of observation.

8. The assembly of claim 4 wherein an opaque cover is provided for the aperture to permit display changes in the lower display room without being observed from said point of observation.

ROBERT V. CHEATHAM, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following referent-w are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 463,848 Van Derveer Nov. 24, 1891 665,830 Hurd Jan. 8, 1901 1,289,286 Sliter Dec. 31, 1918 2,192,063 Hopkins Feb 2'7, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1 14,159 Great Britain Oct. 2, 1888 90,578 Germany -1- Aug. 4, 1896 

